Budget 2012 - 50p Tax Cut To 45p, Personal Tax Allowance Up By £1100

George Osborne has delivered his 2012 Budget to the Commons, and as expected the 50p top rate of tax is being cut to 45p, a measure which will come into effect a year from now.

"We are earning our way out of trouble," the Chancellor said at the conclusion to his speech, insisting that the top rate of tax - introduced by the last government - had only encouraged tax avoidance and raised less than a third of the amount previously expected.

The chancellor also performed a major U-turn on cuts to child benefits for middle-incomes.

Rather than taking benefits away from any household with someone earning just over £40,000, the rate at which benefits begin to be cut is raised to £50,000 - and it won't be an automatic cut, rather it will escalate depending on earnings, with the entire benefit only being taken away from someone earning £60,000.